2 Comments »

globatron said:

Can you do this? Can a white male paint his face in near black face and sing rap songs? I wonder about the PCness of this. I do like it from the core because I know you grew up in a black neighborhood and there’s a part of you who honestly thinks that you are black or would like to be.
What are your thoughts on black face being used in artwork?
How did it feel afterward? I’m wondering about your emotions after completing this? Did you feel closer to the music?
I’m also wondering if this will become its own character and turn into a series. I’d like to see where this character goes and how far you can develop him.
- 21 May 2009 at 8:43 pm
Akbar Lightning (author) said:

it is important to point out that i painted my face grey, but because I changed the contrast and color to make the video have effect, it had the unintended affect of making my face black, which was counter to my intention, so i take responsibility for that fault.
i believe ‘Grey Face’ is going to be an interesting way to address our growing multi-cultural world, a place where whites and blacks feel both racial identities within. gray face is a way of reclaiming our shared destiny, and our shared troubled past.
as far as feelings go, i felt a bit embarrassed, i made some mistakes, Tupac’s rapping is so tight and amazing, but i felt i did a fairly good job, and i heard my voice from the outside. i felt basically uncomfortable about sharing it, but i figured that was a good thing. i had a lot of fun in my studio last night, pushing my comfort zones. thanks for asking.
akbar
- 22 May 2009 at 12:32 am

Leave your response!

Archives